March 1st, 2015 | RESEARCH
Three accredited zoos and aquariums in the Pacific Northwest are collaborating on a project aimed at developing tools to assess program effectiveness in encouraging children's empathy towards animals. This short briefing paper outlines the team's initial work to 1) gain a shared understanding and definition of the construct (empathy towards animals) and how it develops during childhood, and 2) review existing research on the link between empathy and beneficial action towards wildlife, and 3) summarize research findings on best practices towards encouraging empathy.
Document
Team Members
Kathryn Owen, Contact, Kathryn Owen ConsultingKathayoon Khalil, Contributor, Oregon Zoo
Funders
Funding Source: Private Foundation
Related URLs
Measuring Empathy: Collaborative Assessment Project
Tags
Audience: Elementary School Children (6-10) | Evaluators | Learning Researchers | Middle School Children (11-13) | Museum | ISE Professionals
Discipline: Ecology | forestry | agriculture | Education and learning science | Life science | Social science and psychology
Resource Type: Marketing Materials | Reference Materials
Environment Type: Aquarium and Zoo Exhibits | Aquarium and Zoo Programs | Exhibitions | Public Programs